Fundraiser to raise suicide consciousness as well as funds

Mental Health America in Sheboygan County is sponsoring the fourth annual There is Hope Walk/Run for suicide prevention and awareness on Saturday, Sept. 19.

To guarantee a T-shirt, registrations need to be received by Sept. 11.

The main events will be taking place at the Odyssey Fun Center on Hwy 32 in Sheboygan Falls. Checkin will begin at 8:30 a.m. with the opening ceremony kicking off the event at 10 a.m.

Participants can choose to walk/run 2, 5, or 10 miles along the Old Plank Road Trail. There will be a public brat fry from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. and a silent auction. All proceeds from this event will help Mental Health America continue its work in the community providing confidential referrals, informational handouts and brochures, educational programs and outreach, support groups, emergency medication requests, and much more.

Suicide touches all of our lives in some way. There is a suicide attempt every minute and a death by suicide every 16 minutes in the United States. If this isn’t alarming enough, the third-leading cause of death among those 15-24 years old is suicide.

This year alone, there have already been 11 deaths by suicide in Sheboygan County.

Mental Health America believes that with more awareness and less stigma of mental illness, one day rates of suicide will decrease. The walk gives people a chance to remember those who have been lost to suicide and to stand together and say there is hope for a brighter tomorrow.

For additional information and /or to register for the event, visit www.mhasheboygan.org or contact Mental Health America at 458-3951.